Introduction to Venous Thromboembolism in Cancer Patients
Venous thromboembolism (VTE), which includes both deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE), represents a significant health concern, particularly in patients afflicted with hematologic malignancies such as lymphoma and multiple myeloma. The incidence of thromboembolic complications is notably higher in these patients compared to the general population, with risks escalating four to seven times due to a myriad of factors including disease-related hypercoagulability, treatment-induced complications, and patient-specific comorbidities. The prevalence of VTE among patients with lymphoma and multiple myeloma is alarming, necessitating effective risk assessment tools to identify those at greater risk.
Study Overview and Key Findings
This retrospective study, conducted at the Department of Clinical Hematology at Moulay Ismail Military Hospital in Meknes, Morocco, aimed to delineate the clinical characteristics of VTE in patients diagnosed with lymphoma and multiple myeloma, while also evaluating the applicability of established risk assessment models such as the Thrombosis in Lymphoma (ThroLy) score and the IMPEDE VTE score. Over a two-year period from September 2023 to September 2025, 141 patients—comprising 72 with lymphoma and 69 with multiple myeloma—were analyzed. The results revealed that 22 patients developed VTE, leading to a total of 24 thrombotic events; notably, the mean age of those affected was 51 years, with a predominance of male patients (68.2%).
The analysis uncovered that proximal DVT accounted for the vast majority of thrombotic incidents (95.8%), while PE was less common (8.3%). Among the various risk factors identified, central venous catheterization emerged as the leading contributor (36.4%), followed by corticosteroid therapy and erythropoietin exposure. Importantly, the study confirmed that a high ThroLy score was significantly linked to the occurrence of thrombosis in lymphoma patients, and a striking 85.7% of multiple myeloma patients who experienced thrombotic events were classified as high risk according to the IMPEDE VTE score.
The findings underscore the critical need for proactive thrombotic risk assessment in hematologic malignancies. The ThroLy and IMPEDE VTE scores demonstrated substantial clinical utility; their systematic implementation could enhance risk stratification and foster tailored thromboprophylaxis strategies in clinical practice. Overall, this study contributes valuable insights into the burden of VTE within a Moroccan cohort, emphasizing the importance of adapting risk assessment tools to local patient populations.
As reported by cureus.com.
